Adventures Round the Bend

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Julep Maven is a monthly subscription box for nail polish and beauty items. They offer two monthly boxes: My Maven ($24.99/month worth $40+) or Maven Luxe ($39.99/month worth $60+). You can customize both boxes and can switch between the two when you want. You can also prepay for three months and they would be $19.99 a box.

They also offer mystery boxes a monthly basis. For August they offered a 100 Degrees of Mystery Box which was a $100+ value. I decided I could add some polish to my collection and figured anything I didn't like I could swap. I also did the 100 Degrees of Mystery $9.99 add on which is supposed to be a $49 value. I ended up finding a $10 off promo code and got my whole thing for only $24.99.

This was probably the most interesting thing I got in this box. It's an all natural sponge made from the fibrous root of the Japanese Konjac plant. It's 100% biodegradable and is enriched with charcoal to clarify your skin. It's supposed to be good for any skin type so I'm interested to see how it works.

This has 22 nail spoons to swatch all your colors. I don't know if I'll use this. It could be a fun project but would be a bit time consuming. Julep says to paint the top of the opaque spoon to see the true color.

Tatiana is a coppery orange glitter. It's almost fall here in New England so I'm super excited to have this one in my collection. This is actually a Breathable nail polish. It's made with Oxygen Technology that helps make your nails healthy and more conditioned.

The first look of the mystery box.

Twistband Hair Ties (Value - $4)

I've always been hesitant about these hair ties because I received one before and it was too small for my hair. The silver one is a little tight so I haven't tried it but I love the purple one. I've been using it daily.

This is an intensive formula that treats dry hands with Julep's exclusive Power Cell Complex. It's a blend of Rosehip seed oil to soothe and repair, green coffee bean oil to promote cell turnover and Malvaceae Lipid Extract for hydration. You can also use it on dry elbows or other dry areas. Winter will be coming so it's good to start stocking up now.

This is a primer for your lips to help keep your lip color on all day while also plumping and moisturizing. Like the hand creme, it is also enhanced with the Power Cell Complex. Unfortunately I couldn't get any product out of the container (I clicked the button about 20 times and nothing) and looking at the reviews of it online, I'm not the only one with this problem.

This will add a matte finish to any polish. It can add a fun effect to all different types of polish whether it's a gloss or creme color. I also read that you can use a matte top coat as a base for lighter colored polishes and the color will be stronger without as many coats. I'm very interested in experimenting with that.

This is a yellow glitter with hints of red, green and blue sparkles. Glitter nail polishes are always a good one to have. You can do all of your nails in glitter or just an accent nail.

Annika (Value - $11.20)

Annika is a silver chrome. I'm actually wearing this polish right now and I love it. I wasn't quite sure when I put it on. I was expecting more of a grey creme than silver but I after I got over that I realized it was awesome. *This is no longer available on the website.

I will say with the Maven pricing the box value was $82.40 without the add on so it didn't hit the $100 value as promised. With the add on the value came out to $115.59. It is a good price for everything I just wished I didn't need the add on to hit the promised value. Without the Maven price it does hit the $100 value but most people purchasing from Julep are Mavens so I don't really agree. I did get some things that I am super excited to have in my collection though so in the end I am happy with my purchase.

Coupon Codes: If you purchase using the mobile app like I did you can try "MOBILE20" to take 20% off your order. You can also try "WELCOMEOFFER20" if you're a new customer. If you add any other items to your cart and hit $35 you can add a Mystery Sample Pack for free.

With fall coming up and winter right around the corner after that I'm happy to start stocking for chapped lips. This is made with triple-purified Vaseline petroleum jelly to keep lips soft and moisturized. It's scented lightly with rose and leaves a sheer pink tint on the lips. Sometimes it's the little things that excite me the most.

I always enjoy getting full size products for hair because it gives me a chance to use it enough to see if it makes a difference on my hair or not. This serum is supposed to eliminate frizz for up to 48 hours and locks in shine. I'm interested to see how this works out.

I got this mascara in the Target Beauty Box a couple months ago and thought it was okay. It does a good job at lengthening but I don't really think it adds a lot of volume. You also have to be careful blinking after you apply it. It stays wet for a couple minutes so you have to let it dry. I'll most likely swap it.

This moisturizer is enriched with Vitamins B5 and E to help improve skin condition and a blend of allantoin, glycerin and bisabolol to nourish and hydrate it. Best of all, it also doubles as SPF to protect from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It kind of smells like sunscreen but if it works well, I'll be happy.

This was the thing I mainly got the box for and was the most excited about. Lip gloss is one of my favorite things and I've been meaning to try the Burt's Bees brand for ages. I absolutely love this! It's the perfect shade of pink for me. It enhances my natural lip color, adds just the right amount of shine and is moisturizing but not sticky. I will definitely be picking up more of these in different colors.

All in all I think this box was a great value. I got 5 products that I know I'll use and even found a lip gloss that earned a permanent home in my purse. The value dollar wise ended up being $35.73.

I did end up adding on my favorite eyeliner that I'd been meaning to pick up (stila stay all day waterproof liquid eyeliner in intense black) which meant I got a free sample pack as well.

The full size of this is 0.4oz and the one I got is 0.3oz which makes it almost full size. Awesome!

Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette Sampler Sunset (Value - $3.99)

This has four shades from the Revealed 2 eye shadow palette. The colors are great neutrals for everyday use.

I paid $28 for the two boxes and got a total value of $74.92 without the free samples. These boxes are great buys and I definitely think are worth the purchase. They're still up on the site so you can still grab them. If you want to try the monthly subscription for Birchbox ($10 a month) click here.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Cost: $18 (If you get both this box and the Mass Appeal Box Birchbox will automatically take $5 off at checkout.

Coupon Codes: If you purchase using the mobile app like I did you can try "MOBILE20" to take 20% off your order. You can also try "WELCOMEOFFER20" if you're a new customer. If you add any other items to your cart and hit $35 you can add a Mystery Sample Pack for free.

When Birchbox released the Limited Edition boxes curated with products from the finalists of the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Insiders' Choice Beauty Awards, I bought them right away. They just called to me. Birchbox always has awesome limited edition boxes throughout the year and these two are ones I look forward to the most. This review is for the Prestige Headliners and I'll be doing the Mass Appeal Box in a separate post.

Each box comes with an information card detailing the products. This box contains five of the best luxury beauty products of 2014 and two "Lifestyle Extras."

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Creme (Value - $6.40 - Travel Size)
I was so excited to get this in the box. It's been very humid in New England lately so this is going to help my hair tremendously. It's a lightweight, leave in styling creme infused with olive oil. I also love the smell so it makes me want to put it in so I can smell it all day.

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light(Value - $4.52 - Deluxe Sample)
This is 100% pure argan oil sourced from Morocco that is lightweight and moisturizing. You can wear it on its own to hydrate your face and give yourself a little go or even as primer for your makeup. Not only that but you can even use it on your hair for split ends, on your cuticles, and anyplace that needs a little extra hydration. I have a feeling I'm going to fall in love this.

Philosophy Miracle Worker Overnight(Value - $13.60)
This is an age-resetting, anti-wrinkle moisturizer that contains a rare marine algae and vitamin C to help give you healthier and softer skin and deep hydration. I'm a little young for this so I'll probably give this to my mom as well.

100% Pure Creamy Nail Polish in Velveteen(Value - $12 - FULL SIZE)
This nail polish is nice because it is a vegan formula. It's made without synthetic ingredients, is cruelty free, and gets it color from natural fruit and veggie pigments. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the color yet. We'll see how it looks on but it is a good fall tone so my fingers are crossed.

Lifestyle Extras:For those I got a set of toe separators which I don't normally use but you never know and a little mirror.

Total value of the Prestige Box ended up being $39.19 not counting the lifestyle extras. I'm pretty impressed and happy with what I got. It's a great deal if you're interested in trying out some all-star products. If you want to subscribe for the monthly box for $10 a month as well you can sign up here.

This body cream is so indulgent. It's made with pure English honey, organic cocoa, sweet almond oil, Vitamin B5 and shea butter to make your skin super soft. It's also infused with essential oils such as lavender oil, rose extract and sweet violet extract from the Mitchell's fifth-generation farm in England. It smells just as good as it sounds, absorbs into the skin very well, and is made without parabens and synthetic coloring.

This serum is a custom blend of Skin Inc.'s patented encapsulation technology featuring Coenzyme Q10 to enhance the skin's ability to energize and renew itself, Marine-Collagen to promote elasticity and Hyaluronic for hydration. I love the fact that Glossybox went to bold with such a big ticket item but at the same time it was the downfall for this box for me. This isn't a product I'm going to use so I was sad to see that it was the biggest dollar value item in the box. I will end up swapping this to someone who will actually use it.

This lightweight toner adjusts the pH of tap water to leave your hair smooth after getting out of the shower. It also helps detangle your hair and keep it frizz-free. It works best if you spray it in right after you wash your hair but you can use it during the day as well. It's paraben and phthalate free and safe for color-treated hair. It's also made with Apple Cider Vinegar which is a natural pH balancer. I do hate the smell of vinegar which kind of sucks because it means I won't really use this either. To the swap pile for this as well.

At first I thought this was the full size but after looking closely I realized it was a deluxe size. Either way I'm happy to have it. I love this! First off, the mojito flavor is amazing. Secondly, the gel lip balm goes on smooth but not sticky. Added bonus: color and paraben free. I will definitely be getting more of this!

This was the thing I was most excited to try from this box! It's known as the 10-minute "facial in a jar." The "magic" behind the treatment is the NEW patented TEAOXI technology with real Green Tea Leaf that helps deliver fresh antioxidants. It's also made with French Sea Clay and Volcanic Rock. The mask is supposed to exfoliate, detoxify, and revitalize leaving you with smoother, brighter, and softer skin. This is my favorite thing in the box!

Totaled up I got a value of $96.19 for this box. It's a great deal value for what I paid for the box and I'll use 3 out of 5 items. If you want to sign up for Glossybox click here. If you enter the code GLOSSYBDAY you can get 20% off any fixed term subscription which makes a monthly subscription $16.80.

I don't think I've ever been as excited as I was when I realized there was an Alex and Ani bracelet in my box. I put it on the moment I took it out and haven't taken it off since. Alex and Ani says to "embrace the devoted energy of this migratory being with the Swan Charm as an encouragement to glide through life with an open heart." This is the perfect thing that can remind me every time I wear it of my grace and beauty and all of the positive things I can look forward to. I know I'll be wearing this almost every day going forward.

This bar soap is infused with essential oils that are supposed to embody the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. It has a definite spice smell to it. I could smell it as soon as I opened the box. My favorite thing is the fact that it only has 6 ingredients and I recognize all of them.

Brook Street is a coral polish that is great for summer. First a coral in my Julep box and now one in GB... I'm thinking coral is going to be a color favorite for the summertime. I love Nail's Inc. polish so I'm excited to get this plus the fact that it's a mini bottle adds to its cuteness.

This skincare mask is enriched with ingredients such as Black Rose extract, Vitamin E, essential oils of geranium, rose and magnolia and more in order to soothe, hydrate, and stimulate your skin to give you a refreshing and rejuvenated look and feel. I'm excited to try it out.

This is a lotion for your hair. You apply it damp, freshly cleaned hair to help moisturize, strengthen and add volume to your locks. It's made with organic ingredients such as bamboo and maca root as well as being free of parabens, phthalates, gluten, synthetic color, mineral oil and petrolatum. I'm quite interested in seeing how this works.

I loved this month's Glossybox! I got an extra bonus item and 2 full size items. The value of the box ended up being $95.05. Considering how much I pay to get it every month, I'm ecstatic for what I got. If you want to sign up for the amazing deals at Glossybox click here!

Julep Maven is a monthly subscription box for nail polish and beauty items. Every month on the 20th, Julep does their Maven Reveal, where you have the option to pick your box (which is $19.99 a month, shipping is free for Mavens). Their are always specially priced add-ons you can get or you can upgrade to the entire collection.

This month I elected to get to the Boho Glam box.

First look.

The box always comes with a little notecard.

I love this inspirational quote. I taped it on my wall so I can read it every day.

I loved this lip gloss. It's a sheer watermelon shade which was the perfect shade for my skin tone. The gloss applied really well and was nice and smooth instead of sticky. The Enchanted lip gloss is also infused with a Power Cell Complex - an antioxidant-rich blend of rosehip seed oil, green coffee bean oil and a Malvaceae Lipid Extract.

They also included a candy stick in the box. I appreciated that they put a little ingredient card with it to make sure anyone with allergies wouldn't eat it.

I ended up getting $44 worth of product for only $19.99. Not bad. If you're interested in signing up or want more information, you can click here. Your first box is free with the code "FREEBOX", you just pay for the shipping which is $3.99. Once a Maven the rest of your shipping will be free for any future order.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

I got super excited when I went to get my mail the other day and saw my Glossybox waiting for me on my porch. Especially considering I didn't know it was going to be here (I never got a shipping notification so surprise!).

Glossybox is a monthly subscription that sends out full size and deluxe beauty and makeup items. It's only $21 a month but they also have 3-month, 6-month, or an annual subscription you can try out as well.

I am extremely excited to try these out. I'm definitely a night owl but still have to get up early sometimes so hopefully these will work. They're supposed to moisturize, nourish and hydrate underneath your eyes so you feel rejuvenated. My fingers are crossed.

This is a multi-tasking hair treatment spray that provides 21 different ways to protect, prime, and perfect color-treated hair and it says it has 100% vegan ingredients. My hair's not colored at the moment but I've thinking about dying it for a few months now, so I'll put this to the side until I need it.

This anti-aging serum is supposed to hydrate your skin with the help of truffle extracts and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It's also free of parabens, sulfates, and mineral oils. Unfortunately for me, I'm quite young and don't really need to use serums so I'll add this to my give away pile.

I truly love eyeliner. It's one of those things that when I put it on it instantly makes me feel better and prettier and more confident. It's an intense black that makes your eyes pop, goes on smooth and lasts all day. Basically, I love it.

In the end, I ended up with total value of $60.62 for the February box. Not bad considering the subscription is only $21 a month. Luckily for me, I subscribed while they were having a promotion during the summer for 15% off so I only pay $17.85 a month for mine. If you want to sign up or get some more details you can click here.

Also, if you decide to sign up for Glossybox use the promo code "GBFRESH" and you'll get a FREE Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream (which I got to try in a previous box and is my go to face moisturizer at the moment.).